Initially when she attempted to break into his house and then live there?
She was being a total biatch. I think if he laid down the law to his daughter initially, there would have been a lot less drama. He should have laid down the law to his wife as well. Both of them were completely horrible people in the beginning of this movie. He was being a wimp imo
Considering he had had no contact with her most of her life I think he was still a little shocked about the whole situation and didn't quite know how to handle it at first. He didn't want to alienate his daughter who just showed up at his doorstep, attitude in hand, and he didn't want to treat his wife badly either since she had not had time to accept his daughter.
He felt a lot of guilt most likely for not being there for his daughter as she was growing up. That is not an excuse but it is a reason as to why he didn't want to be too harsh with her at first.
He was her father and he felt guilty for not being able to be there for her and felt responsible for how she had turned out
Have you ever stared fear and danger in the eye and said; YES?